Buckland and Strauss thought it must have been an aquatic creature; Blainville and Pictet labelled it a manatee, or sea-cow.
"The Old Riddle and the Newest Answer"
John Gerard
After ten minutes of silence, I put a question and Roosevelt said, "I would willingly stand for two days to catch a good glimpse of a wild manatee."
"Edge of the Jungle"
William Beebe
Then the largest stretched up as far as any manatee can ever leave the water, and caught and munched a drooping sprig of bamboo.
"Edge of the Jungle"
William Beebe